Tuesday, December 16, 2025

The Holiday Mental Motherload Is Melting My Brain

Ho ho no.
Scary Mommy Daily
Dec. 16, 2025
The Holiday Mental Motherload Is Melting My Brain
Ascent/PKS Media Inc./Stone/Getty Images
Jingle all the way
The Holiday Mental Motherload Is Melting My Brain

I revisit this piece by Samm Davidson from 2022 every Christmas because my God does it still ring true. She writes:

"It's 10pm on a mid-December night and I finally rest my head on the pillow. I am exhausted, but I can't sleep — not yet. Because the moment my eyes close it starts: the automatic and instinctual mental checking of all the boxes. The holiday season to-dos, the worries, the plans, and the don't-forgets — all jingling around in my brain while my husband snores a slow-tempoed symphony just six inches away. I love the holidays, but they also stress me the f*ck out. Because while Santa's list is long, a mother's holiday list is even longer. And as planner, orchestrator, and manager of all of my family's yuletide cheer, I am kind of losing my mind."

When I start to feel like I'm losing it, I read this piece and remember I'm not alone, the holidays are magic but that's because we make the damn magic, and it's more than OK to give yourself a lot of grace.

read it here ⮕
Latest
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 31: Jordan Hudson speaks with Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels after a game against the Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on October 31, 2025 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
Bryan Bennett/Getty Images
Hot Topic
Why Age-Gap Relationships Really Hit A Nerve, According To A Therapist

Every time an age-gap relationship goes viral, it sparks debate over societal norms. But when we say we're "concerned," do we mean it? Here's a pro's take.

Read More.
Woman Scrutinized After Bailing Husband Out Of Elf On The Shelf Duties
ironstoneandpeonies
smart or enabling?
Woman Scrutinized After Bailing Husband Out Of Elf On The Shelf Duties

A mom is getting a fair amount of backlash after sharing that she totally let her husband off the hook when it came to the Elf on the Shelf.

Read More.
A woman is cooking in a kitchen, holding a child. Text bubbles around her express various stresses related to Christmas and family life.
Marc Romanelli/Tetra images/Getty Images
*Deep Breath*
"I Can Tell My Husband Wants Sex & I Dread It All Day" & 31 Other Mom Confessions

In the latest Scary Mommy Confessions, 32 moms share *exactly* what's on their mind.

Read More.
Featured
Scary Mommy Sips
Drink up!
Scary Mommy Sips

Want a drink sans hangover? Join us at Scary Mommy Sips, a drinks club powered by Buzz by Boisson. Think non-alcoholic wines, spirits, and buzzy beverages that deliver on flavor and/or buzz. Sign up at the link below and use code SCARYMOMMY for 15% off the first delivery.

Join us! ⮕
What Else We're Reading
11 Easy Holiday Cocktail Recipes That'll Make You Feel Merry & Bright
Christina Milian & Daughter Violet's European Holiday Traditions Feel Straight Out Of A Christmas Movie
11 Easy Christmas Recipes For A Crowd
Follow us on:
instagramfacebooktiktokx_social
Want to Advertise With Us? Get in Touch.
You're receiving this email because you signed up to receive communications from BDG Media. If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe. Or to manage preferences click here
BDG Media, Inc. · 315 Park Ave. South · New York, NY 10010 · USA
Copyright 2025 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tech That Takes the Chaos Out Of Holiday Togetherness

Calm? Connection? Cool gifts? Check, check, check.
Scary Mommy Daily
Dec. 16, 2025
2 Ways Verizon Helps Families Stay Connected (& Sane) This Holiday Season
Presented by Verizon
2 Ways Verizon Helps Families Stay Connected (& Sane) This Holiday Season

The holidays have a way of turning family time into mayhem. Kids are running in every direction, group chats are stacked with half-replies, and grown-ups like you are juggling a dozen moving parts. Verizon gets that, with thoughtful tech that brings families closer while taking a little pressure off parents.

For younger kids in the "I want a smartphone!" era, the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 is the perfect starter gift. It gives them a bit of independence without full-on screen immersion. Parents get real-time location monitoring, the ability to set an easy-to-use SOS/emergency contact, plus control over who they call or text via a parent-approved list. And kids get a smartwatch that feels grown-up (but with no access to social media or random apps). For a limited time , it's $75 off*!

Up to $149.99 purchase on service plan req'd. Less $75 promo credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req's are no longer met; 0% APR. Promo credit(s) may not exceed featured device retail price.Offer ends 1/7/26.

For the rest of the family, the Verizon Family app (plus the optional Verizon Family Plus upgrade) keeps the whole crew connected. One example: Family Line*, available with Verizon Family Plus, is a shared number that can ring up to five devices at once. It may sound retro, but it saves the day when the school nurse calls, grandparents check in, or travel plans go sideways.

That's connection, calm, and cool gifts, all in one ecosystem. However you holiday, Verizon's got you.

*Family Line is voice-only and the number can be shared with up to 5 phones on your Family Plus perk. If you opt-in to Family Line, additional taxes, fees, and surcharges will apply and can vary.

Learn More ⮕
Add To Cart
Gizmo Watch 3
Verizon
Gizmo Watch 3
$149.99
Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure
Verizon
Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure
$99.99
Follow us on:
instagramfacebooktiktokx_social
Want to Advertise With Us? Get in Touch.
You're receiving this email because you signed up to receive communications from BDG Media. If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe. Or to manage preferences click here
BDG Media, Inc. · 315 Park Ave. South · New York, NY 10010 · USA
Copyright 2025 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

I Went From 20-Second Orgasms To Coming For An Hour

Seriously. Jan. 16, 2026 Colin Anderson Productions/Getty Images A Very NSFW Tale How I Went From 20-Second Orgasms To Coming For An...